



Class 1\ Lig 
Book. v &lo 



Copyright^ .. 






CjDPXRIGHT DEFOSm 



STAMMERING 

ITS CAUSE AND CURE 



Stammering is a disease of the will, inas- 
much as the action of the organs of speech 
is a "faculty" of the mind, and the mind 
directs the body. 



STAMMERING 

ITS CAUSE AND CURE 



BY 

G. ROBINSON SKILLMAN 



ILLUSTRATED 



KUEHN BROS. & COMPANY, INC. 

Publishers 
Baltimore - Washington 






Copyright, 1919, by 
G. ROBINSON SKILLMAN 



AUG ib iaiy 

©CI. A 5 2 9 61 8 



CONTENTS 

Part One — The Cause. 

Speech 1 

What is Speech? 4 

The Relation of Mind to the Mo- 
tive power of Speech 15 

Mechanical and Mental Obstruc- 
tions to Speech 19 

Relaxation 28 

Stuttering 32 

Part Two — The Cure. 

Foreword 36 

Exercises for Breathing 39 

Exercises for Vocalization 45 

Exercises for Articulation 50 

Exercises for Memory and Con- 
centration 59 

The Moral Attitude 67 

Hints on General Health 71 

The Daily Routine 77 



PREFACE 

The purpose of this book is explained by 
its title— "STAMMERING: ITS CAUSE 
AND CURE." It may appear that the com- 
prehensive title of this work is out of propor- 
tion to the small number of its pages, but it 
has been my intention to put before the 
reader in as few words as possible such in- 
formation and instruction as may be neces- 
sary to enable anyone afflicted with stammer- 
ing to effect a permanent cure without con- 
fusing the mind with a long technical analy- 
sis of the functions of the organs of speech. 

The following pages lay no claim to liter- 
ary merit. The subject does not require it. 

It is to reach the thousands of stammerers 
who are either unable to spare the time or 
pay the large tuitions to attend schools for 
the cure of this affliction, but who have the 
determination to cure themselves if shown 
how, that this book is written. 

If I should be so fortunate as to show the 
way out to those who are determined, my 
object will have been attained. 

There are those who claim that stammer- 
ing cannot be cured by mail or book form 
without the personal aid of an experienced 
teacher, but these claims are made by those 
who do not desire an exposure of the sub- 
ject, for fear of a loss of their fruitful 
source of profit. 



X 



Preface 



There have been but a very few books pub- 
lished dealing exclusively with the deep and 
complicated subject of stammering. The 
few books that have been written entirely 
disagree with one another, the majority ig- 
noring the mental stage entirely and the few 
that do mention the mental side of stammer- 
ing are very indefinite. Practically everyone 
who approaches this subject is amazed and 
perplexed at the extraordinary diversity of 
opinion which has existed, and still exists, 
among those who have made a careful study 
of the matter. 

There is no further doubt that stammering 
is an ailment that can be permanently cured 
if treated properly. Anyone who has a real 
desire to be cured can cure himself if he 
follows the instructions religiously. This 
must always be borne in mind when practic- 
ing. 

Before beginning to practice the exercises 
it is well to read the book from cover to cover 
and try and get a thorough understanding of 
the subject, then go back and start all over 
again and start to practice the exercises as 
outlined. 

By merely reading the book you cannot 
expect to be cured. I show you the way. If 
you have determination enough to carry out 
my instructions conscientiously, you will 
have the joy of being able to speak fluently 
and meet your fellow-creatures on the plane 
of equality. 



Preface xi 

^— —————— —^ —————— ^— — — — ■ 

I am greatly indebted to Mr. Alexander 
Graham Bell and Mr. Bernard McFadden 
for many valuable suggestions from their 
books, "The Mechanism of Speech/' and 
"Vitality Supreme/' 

G. R. S. 



WHAT CAUSED ME TO STAMMER 

I cite my own case as an example of stam- 
mering caused by fright: 

I began to stammer when but three years 
of age. It was nearing Christmas, and my 
young mind was filled with the thoughts of 
old St. Nick, and was in a constant state of 
expectancy. My uncle was taking the char- 
acter of King Lear in a church entertain- 
ment, and, my mother being confined to her 
bed, my uncle came in our home to show her 
how he looked. I heard someone coming 
up the steps and ran into the hall, and in the 
dim light I saw what looked to me like Santa 
Claus, and I became paralyzed with fear. My 
stammering began at that moment, and for 
years, although my father had me treated by 
supposed specialists, I was a menace to my- 
self and others. 

It was only after years of faithful study 
of the organs of speech and psychology that 
I conquered what was supposed to be an in- 
curable malady. 

G. R. S. 



PART ONE— THE CAUSE 
SPEECH 

Speech is undoubtedly the strongest con- 
necting link between mankind. Ability to 
express our innermost feelings and make 
ourselves understood to our fellow-creatures 
is a gift that can only be surpassed by our 
love for the Divine. 

The good speaker, no matter if he starts 
life in the humblest of positions, has the 
power to gain for himself great riches and 
success. He has, through his ability to 
speak, the opportunity of influencing great 
crowds, entering politics, serving his coun- 
try in some great official position, making 
himself a man amongst men. 

But the dumb man. Loss of speech will en- 
tirely change his career, make him depend- 
ent upon others, practically an outcast from 
society. He is unable to assert himself, to 
have any voice in the affairs of man. He 
practically lives in a world of his own. 

From infancy man is subject to the in- 
fluence of speech. There is nothing more 
marvelous in the world, though it is so com- 
mon, than to watch a child learning to talk. 
We can tell by a baby's face, long before it 
can talk, something of what it wants and 
feels. The remonstrances and exhortations 
of the parents, the stories with which our 



2 Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 

tender years are beguiled, can have consid- 
erable bearing on the trend of our life. 

Why, even animals talk ! The horse talks 
to horse and does his level best to make him- 
self understood by man. Dogs talk to each 
other in numerous ways and seek to speak 
to us. Cats have a language all their own. 
Even the wild beasts of the forest and the 
birds of the air are gifted with a form of 
language. It is even claimed by some writers 
that animals superseded man in speech. One 
authority claims that primitive man first 
imitated the language of the animals, then 
the sounds of the waters, that of the wind ; 
in a word, all the impressions which came to 
them from without were unconsciously re- 
ceived and imitated by them. In time these 
inarticulate cries and disjointed syllables 
were either united or separated in various 
ways, thus creating words. 

But learning the origin of speech, whether 
primitive man or animals first used a lan- 
guage, will not be of any assistance in our 
study, so we will leave that subject to the 
research authorities to decide. 

Speech is the most important factor in our 
domestic and business life. The influence of 
speech in our homes creates an atmosphere 
of love and confidence, drawing our loved 
ones in closer association. It is in the home 
that advice and gentle rebukes can be ad- 
vanced and appreciated. 



Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 3 

Can there be any more touching scene than 
a family gathered around the fireside of an 
evening and the father's voice relating some 
marvelous stories to his attentive family? 

Then, in the business world, it is the man 
with intelligent speech that overcomes the 
obstacles and reaps success. 

It is the man who is incapable of making 
himself understood, unable to convince his 
hearers of his opinions, who goes down to 
defeat. 

But in the business world, and social world 
as well, it is not always the good speaker who 
is the most honorable. Some men of the mo6t 
deplorable character achieve their purpose 
because of their command of words, their 
ability to take advantage of those who believe 
in their sincerity. 

But, whether speech is used for good or 
bad, the ability to use it fluently is one of the 
most enviable gifts in the world. 



WHAT IS SPEECH? 

CAUSE AND MOTIVE POWER 

t 

Speech is made up of four co-operating 
principles. They are breathing, vocaliza- 
tion, articulation and the relation of mind 
to body. In a good speaker these four prin- 
ciples collectively perform unconsciously the 
functions that go to make perfect speech. 
>: The first requirement in the art of perfect 
speech is correct breathing. Of all the func- 
tions of the body, breathing is the most cen- 
tral and the most directly related to vital 
conditions. . . Breathing is the Vital Force of 
Life. Therefore, it is no wonder that the 
production of tone should center in it. 

Breathing supplies oxygen to the body, 
and without the proper supply of oxygen the 
entire body is affected with sluggishness. 

Every muscular act, every nervous and 
mental impulse, even every heart-throb is 
dependent on this Vital Force of Life. 

Breathing is partly voluntary, but mainly 
reflex, and is done in the most natural and 
best manner when performed unconsciously. 
Its frequency is determined by the mind, by 
the method of thinking and the reception of 
individual impressions. 

It is less laborious to breathe by using the 
diaphragm and waist muscles than by mov- 



Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 5 

ing the heavy framework of the chest. What 
we need for speech is a forcible compression 
of the thoracic cavity. This can be effected 
by the abdominal or waist muscles. The con- 
traction of these muscles produces a com- 
pressing effect upon the viscera, just as 
though a rope were passed around the waist 
and drawn tightjy. This compression forces 
the viscera upward against the underside of 
the diaphragm. The diaphragm is thus 
pushed up like a piston rod into the thoracic 
cavity, compressing the contained air. In 
this way forcible emission of air is caused 
by the contraction of the abdominal muscles, 
and these are the muscles we employ in 
throwing out the voice. For example : Pro- 
long a vowel sound, suddenly increasing the 
force into a shout, a number of times in suc- 
cession, without stopping the voice, thus : 
ah, AH-ah-AH-ah-AH. At every shout a 
forcible contraction of the abdominal muscles 
can be felt by the hand, and the front wall 
of the chest is thrown upward by the force 
of the compressed air within the thorax. 

The next principle active in co-operating 
with breathing is vocalization, and, as vocali- 
zation and articulation are almost synony- 
mous, we will treat these two subjects as 
one. In fact, the only time when vocalization 
and articulation are not synonymous is in the 
cases of laughter, crying or uttering specific 
sounds, but to avoid confusion a short expla- 
nation of vocalization will be given first. 



Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 



Soft Pa/uCe -Yc 



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Gullet ! "^2 



I>ictjb/ir(ic/ 



■ \ v v /fir"'*'' \\ Mafjk'-ag* 






r 




( f 



Intestines \-\/5^ 



I // .. l/bl<iftttef}Jl 



The principal organic functions that go to make 
up the human voice consist as follows: 

1. The chest or thorax, containing the air, which is 
the motor element. 2. The windpipe or trachea, in 
which the air is carried up and down. 3. The voice- 
box or larynx, in which are located the vocal ligaments 
forming the vibrating element. 4. The upper part of 
the throat or pharynx, the mouth and nasal passages, 
forming the resonator. 5. The diaphragm, a large, 
powerful muscle serving as a partition dividing the 
chest from the abdomen. 6. The abdomen — the stom- 
ach. 7. The viscera, the contents of the abdomen. 



Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 7 

One of the first acts of a healthy new-born 
babe is to cry. This cry, the first sound of 
humanity upon its entrance into the world, 
is the foundation of all expression. It is said 
that a mother can tell the difference between 
a cry denoting pain and one of hunger. The 
infant voices its first expression in this man- 
ner. Gradually as the infant gains in age 
the cry becomes more lusty, and then an- 
other form of expression develops in a little 
smile, which gradually grows into laughter. 

These sounds, aided by curious little mim- 
ics, form the foundation for vibration, for 
voice is not the result of great labor, but 
simply the vibration of sound. 

Observe the action of an infant's stomach 
when crying. You will note extreme action, 
as if each sound is forced out, as if with 
bellows. This is the natural action of vocali- 
zation. 

Observe the breathing of a person en- 
gaged in conversation at a time when he 
is unconscious of your observation. You will 
find that many words are articulated be- 
tween each inspiration. The time taken for 
inspiration is instantaneous, whereas the 
duration of the expiration is very long. The 
breath comes in quickly and goes out slowly. 
This means that the trapdoors of the tho- 
racic cavity are opened widely during inspira- 
tion and closed so tightly during the act of 
speech that only a fine stream of air can es- 
cape through the thorax. The prime requi- 



8 



Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 




Position of the vocal cords 
during deep breathing. 




Position of the vocal cords 
during gentle breathing. 




Position of the vocal cords 
during tone production. 



Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 9 

site for speech is a store of compressed air 
which can be let out little by little as wanted. 
It is obvious that the air would escape with 
a rush unless restrained. The trapdoors con- 
stitute the chief means by which a too rapid 
escape of air is prevented. The trapdoors 
are known as the vocal cords and are con- 
tained in the larynx. 

The vocal cords are known as a membrane- 
ous reed, and a short description of the mech- 
anism, without going into a technical analy- 
sis, may help the student understand better 
their use. 

The two membraneous folds with strong 
elastic margins (as shown in the diagrams) 
lie apart during ordinary breathing, except 
in the front, where they are firmly attached 
to the thyroid cartilage and touch one an- 
other. The tension of the cords themselves 
is regulated by two other sets of muscles. 
When taking a deep breath a still wider sepa- 
ration of the cords takes place, while in whis- 
pering the cords come much nearer. The 
pressure upon the vocal cords is increased or 
diminished by the respiratory muscles as we 
desire to make the voice loud or soft. By a 
still stronger approximation of the cords so 
tight a stricture can be produced that they 
are no longer free to vibrate, and a state of 
strangulation ensues, in which the air can 
no longer pass out. 

During this period we are conscious of a 
sense of compression in the throat when the 



10 



Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 



^\~Epiylottts 



Trite 
Cord* 




False 
Vbcal 
Cords 



-Trachea 



Vertical section of the larynx as seen from behind. 



Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 11 

closure is complete, and of ease, accompanied 
by an escape of air, when it is incomplete. 
These sensations bring the action of the mus- 
cles directly under the control of the will, 
and their separate nerve supply renders 
them independent of the other sets of mus- 
cles which regulate the tension of the cords. 

In ordinary conversation the muscular 
tension of the vocal cords may be so adjusted 
as to allow them to yield sufficiently to per- 
mit of the escape of a puff of air, closing 
again immediately and remaining closed 
until the air pressure causes the escape of 
another puff. In this way a regular series 
of puffs may be produced, the alternate open- 
ing and closing of the glottis constituting 
vibration of these vocal cords. 

The frequency of the vibration depends 
upon the tension of the vocal cords. The 
more tightly they are drawn, the more rapid 
will be the vibration produced. When the 
vibration is continuous we have voice. 

Now we know that the lungs supply the 
air, which, striking the vocal cords, is turned 
into sound or voice. Every sound possesses 
the elements of pitch, loudness and quality. 
It does not matter whether the sound be pro- 
duced by the human voice or a musical in- 
strument. It has a certain loudness, a cer- 
tain pitch and a certain character or timbre 
of its own, by which we recognize it from 
other sounds of similar pitch and loudness. 
Now, when we study the production of the 



12 Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 



1. Soft palate. 2. Uvula. 3, 4. Anterior pillars 
of the soft palate. 5, 6. Posterior pillars of the 
soft palate. 7, 8. Tonsils. 9. Tongue. 10. Back 
of the pharynx. 



Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 13 

voice, we find that these three characters 
originate principally in three different parts 
of the vocal apparatus. 

1st. The pitch of the voice is determined 
by the vocal cords. 

2d. The loudness by the abdominal or ex- 
piratory muscles. 

3d. The quality by the parts above the 
vocal cords. 

The upper part of the larynx, together 
with the pharynx, nares and mouth consti- 
tute a passage-way, or tube of variable size 
and shape, extending from the vocal cords 
to the lips, through which the vibrating cur- 
rent of air is passed. It is here that the 
voice is moulded, or the sound articulated, on 
its way to the ear. 

This tube, which varies from 6% to 7 
inches in length, is the real body of our vocal 
instrument. Every sound must necessarily 
pass through it. Every vowel and consonant 
must be formed within it, and the whole 
character of the voice depends upon the way 
we use it. 

This tube, or tone passage, is not opened 
by direct voluntary action; it must be re- 
laxed. It opens because of the surrender of 
the back of the tongue and the jaw; when 
the jaw is held rigid, neither the tongue nor 
the pharynx can be free. 

In each act of speech the co-ordination of 
a large number of muscular movements is 
required. Even if the attempt to determine 



14 Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 

the precise state of these muscles was made 
plain to the stammerer, it would scarcely 
afford the least assistance in acquirement 
of the power to use it. The training which 
develops the inarticulate cry of the infant 
into articulate speech mainly consists in the 
fixation of the attention on the audible re- 
sult, and the repetition of this until it has 
become habitual. 

The primary organ is the tongue, which is 
directly or indirectly concerned in every ele- 
ment of speech. Except the few vowels 
which are modified by the lips, and the few 
elements modified by the soft palate, the 
tongue is the only active instrument in pro- 
ducing speech. The lips, upper teeth and the 
hard palate act only in passive opposition to 
the tongue. 

In talking we are guided more or less by 
muscular feeling. For example, we can talk 
without making any noise, so that a deaf per- 
son can understand what we are saying by 
watching the mouth. 

A word starts as one, with the breath from 
the diaphragm and as tone from the larynx. 
The elements are shaped, separated or dis- 
criminated only in the mouth. 



THE RELATION OF THE MIND TO THE 
MOTIVE POWER OF SPEECH 

Now that we have an idea of the mechan- 
ism of speech, we will learn about the power 
that controls these organs. 

The organs of speech may be likened to a 
complicated piece of machinery. This piece 
of machinery would be practically useless 
unless it had something to drive it or make 
it go. Thus it is with the organs of speech. 
They are dependent upon the mind for their 
action. 

The first great fact about the mind is that 
there is something real, but which cannot 
be taken hold of. It is not a part of the body. 
Any part of the body, even the nerves or the 
highest part of the brain itself, can be seen, 
touched or cut* 

Psychology teaches us that we have two 
minds — a conscious mind and subconscious 
mind. The subconscious mind never forgets ; 
it does its work with incredible swiftness 
and accuracy and has perfect control of the 
physical organism. It is amenable to sug- 
gestion, and unless this suggestion is inhib- 
ited by a counter-suggestion in the form of 
a direct command or a fixed belief and desire, 
it will carry out to its logical conclusion the 
primary suggestion. 



16 Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 

All correct uses of the voice depend upon 
certain co-ordinate conditions of different 
parts established by the normal action of 
thought and feeling. All misuse of the voice 
is caused by some kind of interference with 
these co-ordinations. This lack of co-ordina- 
tion may exist between thought and imagi- 
nation or thought and feeling and between 
psychological and bodily actions as well as a 
failure of the two parts simultaneously and 
harmoniously to respond to the mental 
action. 

The conscious mind may be considered the 
active mind, and is capable of direct control 
of the subconscious mind, providing the sub- 
conscious mind is not controlled by an idea 
or doubt. The co-ordinated action of the 
mind and the organs of speech can begetter 
explained by closely studying the diagram 
on the next page. (You will note that this 
is gotten up in the form of a telephone sys- 
tem, the conscious mind being the exchange 
and the subconscious mind the operating 
power. Here there are wires running to the 
organs of speech.) 

Now, when the brain desires to express an 
idea, it at once gets into communication with 
the power station, which in turn connects 
with the organs of speech, making a complete 
circuit. But suppose there should be a com- 
plication between the brain or the telephone 
exchange and the power station ; there would 
not be a proper connection with the organs 



Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 



17 




18 Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 

of speech, causing disjointed syllables or im- 
proper articulation. 

Therefore, co-ordinated muscular move- 
ment, which involves complicated nerve ac- 
tion — controlled directly by the dictation of 
the brain — is necessary for normal speech. 



MECHANICAL AND MENTAL 
OBSTRUCTIONS TO SPEECH 

Next to being dumb, stammering is one of 
the most common obstructions to perfect 
speech. The question has often been asked 
why the medical profession, as a whole, has 
neglected the study of stammering. I do not 
know whether the subject was thought to be 
of minor importance or that the many intri- 
cacies entering into its study caused it to be 
sidetracked in favor of a few specialists. I 
have asked quite a few well-known phy- 
sicians to explain the cause of stammering, 
but I have yet to get a satisfactory answer. 

In ancient history we find that much atten- 
tion was paid to the impediment of speech 
by the Romans and Greeks, and many the- 
ories were advanced as to the cause, such as 
the articulating mechanism was held to be at 
fault, abnormal movement of the pharynx, 
defective movements of the tongue, spasm 
of the glottis and many other such theories. 

There was also a period when surgical 
treatment was tried, but after many failures 
was abandoned. 

During these many years of experimenting 
the thousands of afflicted throughout the 
world, after a brief struggle, gave up the 



20 Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 



battle and classed stammering among the 
distinctly incurable maladies of mankind. 

This opinion of stammering was shared 
by a great number of people of all nationali- 
ties for a number of years and, as a matter 
of fact, there are a great many people today 
who class stammering as incurable. It is 
only of late years that any real practical 
theory has been advanced, and this was not 
until stammering took its place with the 
great psychological problems of the age. 

Of all afflictions, I think that of the stam- 
merer is one of the most pitiful. Not having 
command of his organic faculties, he is 
handicapped by his consciousness and ac- 
cepts the inevitable without much effort to 
throw off the yoke. 

We find that some of the greatest men in 
history suffered from impediment of the 
speech. The story of Demosthenes, the fa- 
mous orator of ancient history, is known to 
most of us. This wonderful orator when a 
boy was an inveterate stammerer. He went 
down to the seashore and put pebbles in his 
mouth and talked to the waves. At first the 
results were very discouraging, but by per- 
severing he conquered his impediment and 
became one of the foremost figures of his 
time. The Bible mentions that Moses was 
a stammerer. George Washington, Charles 
Kingsley, Charles Lamb, Thomas Jefferson 
and many other great men suffered from im- 
pediment of the speech. Yet in the majority 



J 



Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 21 

of cases stammering has sapped the very- 
best in man, leaving a lack of confidence, a 
broken spirit, a disposition that prevents 
him from acting as his imagination prompts 
and thereby showing his worth. 

The stammerer is really an outcast from 
society. He does not invite confidence, because 
he has not confidence in himself. Owing to 
his mental isolation, he cultivates and ma- 
tures extreme views, which remain unmodi- 
fied because he is denied the advantage of 
discussing them. 

No two stammerers stammer precisely 
alike. They stumble over different letters 
and sounds. And then time, place and cir- 
cumstances have varying effects on the de- 
gree of their stammering, and the physical 
spasms that generally accompany this 
trouble differ in different stammerers. 

That there are times when the stammerer 
is able to articulate freely is enough proof 
that there are no physical defects, except in 
rare cases where there is a malformation of 
the vocal organs. Even then you could 
hardly class the vocalization as stammering, 
as it is in the majority of cases a gutteral 
sound, and is continuous when speech is 
attempted. 

Usually the stammerer is able to talk when 
alone, but in the presence of others he be- 
comes paralyzed, his throat contracts until 
he cannot emit a sound. Therefore, stam- 
mering is not caused by organic imperfec- 



22 Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 

tion, but the inability of the proper functions 
to perform as intended by nature. 

But what causes this unnatural action of 
the speech organs? 

In the beginning, the origin of stammering 
is attributed to various causes, such as 
fright, imitation, the result of some disease 
and heredity. Accidents have often left stam- 
mering as the after-effect. 

I believe stammering is caused principally 
through heredity, as in the majority of cases 
I find that the stammerer's parents or some 
blood relation have at some time or other 
stammered. This malady may be handed 
down, sometimes skipping several genera- 
tions where no manifestations of it are ap- 
parent, lying dormant, as it were. Then, 
again, through fright or protracted illness, 
or some other cause, the impediment may 
again be aggravated and developed. 

Almost invariably the first stage of stam- 
mering is physical, although it has a mental 
origin and is not considered serious ; it is thus 
neglected. Stuttering, which is a stage of 
stammering, usually has a like beginning. 
(Stuttering is described in a different chap- 
ter.) 

One of the principal reasons that so little 
attention is paid to the impediment in its 
early stages is the thought that the afflicted 
will soon outgrow it. But this is very seldom 
the case. Eventually as the afflicted becomes 
conscious of the impediment he will use un- 



Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 23 

due effort to conceal it. Certain words and 
letters will appear harder to enunciate than 
others, which causes substitution, of words, 
which ofttimes changes the meaning of the 
sentences and makes the stammerer appear 
more or less ridiculous. 

Here is where criticism plays an impor- 
tant part in developing stammering. Friends, 
or even parents, not realizing the serious- 
ness, may make taunting remarks that sink 
deep into the mind of the afflicted, causing a 
great deal of embarrassment. It is then that 
the stammering takes a more pronounced 
form. The mouth may open wide and re- 
main in that position, the glottis may con- 
tract and the respiration become affected; 
the entire body becomes rigid. Gradually 
self-consciousness causes a mental disturb- 
ance which manifests itself every time we 
desire to express thought. These manifesta- 
tions become more frequent as the serious- 
ness of the impediment is realized. 

This realization causes the stammerer to 
avoid circumstances and conditions where he 
will have to talk. He loses his confidence at 
the ever-present dread to speak, and leads 
an independent existence, as it were, in the 
depths of his mind. 

Ordinarily, speaking is automatic. That 
is to say, that in the speech of a normal per- 
son, where no impediment is experienced 
and the accomplishment is of long standing, 
it is conducted with very little effort ; but in 



24 Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 

the case of the stammerer, where there is a 
continued fear, it causes a mental action that 
makes the thought which we desired to ex- 
press secondary, thus causing a restriction 
in the mind, and when the mind is restricted 
the organs also become constricted. 

The fear of the stammerer is based upon 
the memory of inability, and this fear, which 
is characterized by an expectancy of some- 
thing disagreeable, gradually dominates his 
very existence. 

All faults of the voice are associated with 
some constriction in the tone passage or the 
wrong use of some part of the vocal mechan- 
ism. While every individual voice is pecu- 
liar to itself and no amount of training can 
make them alike, still the fact must be real- 
ized that there are certain conditions or 
qualities in nearly every voice which are the 
perversions of nature. 

No part of the tone passage is controlled 
specifically and individually in ordinary 
speech. The slightest act is intimately con- 
nected with all parts. All these in producing 
a tone act sympathetically and almost as a 
unit, and a fault cannot be adequately cor- 
rected until there is developed right co-ordi- 
nation of all these parts. Even this is not 
sufficient. The mental action or feeling 
which originally caused the constriction 
must be removed, or the cause will again 
operate and once more produce the effect. 



Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 25 

The establishing of normal conditions en- 
ables the student to trust his instincts. Then 
exercises as a mechanical performance must 
be forgotten, and all the actions of being 
and body so normally established that nat- 
uralness is the result. 

— One of the greatest faults of the stam- 
r merer is his absolute lack of confidence. He 
has tried so many "sure cures" suggested by 
friends that he has lost all faith, and has not 
sufficient energy to effect a cure ; or, at least, 
he is not persistent in carrying it out. 

I want to state right here that I believe 
there are a few institutions in this country 
for the cure of stammering that are sincere 
and are really doing good to those who can 
afford to pay the price. But, at the same 
time, there are many quacks who pursue 
empyrical methods without any insight into 
the real nature of the affliction, thus doing a 
great injustice to those who are really try- 
ing to show the way out to those afflicted. 

Among the methods practiced by these 
quacks, the best known is a scheme of 
slowly bowing the head while uttering each 
sentence. I have never heard of a successful 
cure resulting from this practice. Another 
method is one of overexercising the vocal 
organs, which results in an extreme tension 
of these organs, whereas there should be 
relaxation. 

Hypnotism, elocution and drugs are also 
used without results. 



26 Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 

It is no wonder that the stammerer be- 
comes discouraged after experimenting with 
the schemes described. And even though 
afterwards he should be placed in the hands 
of a reliable teacher, it takes some time to 
gain the confidence necessary for a successful 
cure. 

The causes of all faults in speaking are 
primarily in the mind. One of the best illus- 
trations of this is the difference between the 
speaking and singing voice. Singing is me- 
chanical, the words being more or less of lit- 
tle importance; the first effort of the mind 
is given to producing the sounds which con- 
stitute the tune of the song. Speaking is 
less mechanical, requiring concentration, 
subconscious thought and imagination. 

It is a mystery to most persons why stam- 
merers can repeat inflections after anyone or 
even recite in public. The same principle 
applied to singing can be applied in this case. 
The stammerer loses sight of his real self 
and feels as if he is acting a part and does 
not get into a reasoning state of mind about 
it, whereas in ordinary conversation he feels 
as if he is under a kind of examination, and 
can think of nothing but that he is being 
looked at, and feels nothing but shame or 
apprehension. 

Another example is that when the stam- 
merer is angry he is able to enunciate freely ; 
he loses sight of his self-consciousness and 



Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 27 

hardly knows what he is saying. But in most 
cases after reaction takes place he stammers 
worse than before. 



RELAXATION 

Every movement which we make is deter- 
mined by the constitution of the nervous sys- 
tem. In the stammerer the muscular move- 
ments appear to be entirely governed by the 
authoritative assurance "you cannot speak," 
the whole mind being for the time possessed 
with the fixed idea thus introduced. The 
possession of the mind by a dominant idea, 
which the individual himself has lost all 
power of controlling simply because he can- 
not direct his thoughts to any other channel, 
causes the brain to become excited and an 
excess of nerve-force to be generated. 

This overflow of nerve-force must expend 
itself in some way or other on the muscular 
system in general. It happens that cer- 
tain classes of muscles are affected first, 
and if there still remains an excess of ner- 
vous energy, then certain other classes of 
muscles are affected, for an overflow of 
nerve-force will manifestly take first the 
most habitual route. 

The class of muscles which are first af- 
fected by the overflow of nerve energy are 
those of articulation, as these muscles are 
most constantly set in action, being directly 
affected by feelings of all kinds. 

The muscles next affected by the discharge 
of nervous energy into the muscular system 



Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 29 

are those of respiration. Thus it is readily 
seen that the two most important sets of 
muscles affected are those most instrumental 
in the formation of speech. 

This undirected radiation of nerve-force 
causes almost a violent convulsion effect on 
every muscle of the voice apparatus. The 
mouth may be closely compressed, or, more 
commonly, the lips are retracted with the 
teeth clenched. 

It is a common thing among stammerers 
when affected as just stated that some move- 
ment, such as slapping the thigh, kicking the 
feet together or some other physical effort 
will relieve temporarily the tension and en- 
able them to utter the word or finish the 
sentence started. 

The reason that a movement of this kind 
has the effect as described is that it facili- 
tates the mental action or draws off a portion 
of the nerve energy that is restricting the 
organs of speech. 

No doubt the effect of such movements was 
responsible for the empirical method of beat- 
ing time practiced by quacks throughout the 
country. 

In the stammerer the muscles of the voice 
apparatus become very rigid from this ex- 
cess nerve-force, and a series of exercises in 
relaxation is necessary to get these muscles 
back to their normal state. 

In this explanation it is not intended that 
the student should get the idea that stam- 



30 Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 

mering is caused by nervousness, although 
it has often been attributed to it. Even some 
physicians have claimed that stammering is 
a nervous ailment, but, generally speaking, 
this is not the case. 

Man is so constructed that there is a nerve 
connection from the brain to every part of 
the body. This arrangement might very well 
be compared to the telegraph system, the 
brain acting as the directive center, which 
receives information, then conveys com- 
mands or action required to the various parts 
of the body. 

It is a well-known fact that intense mental 
action abstracts energy. Or, in other words, 
during extreme intellectual excitement, such 
as stammering, the bodily movements are 
hindered by extra absorption of nervous 
energy. One of the first parts of the body 
to be thus affected is the viscera, arresting 
the digestion and destroying the appetite. 

In this explanation it is readily seen why 
the stammerer is usually of ill-health, as gen- 
erally all complaints are primarily due to 
stomach disorders. 

Continued disorders of the stomach not 
only affect the many other physical organs, 
but eventually react on the mind, causing 
nervousness. Therefore, instead of stam- 
mering being a nervous ailment, it really 
causes nervousness, and when the mental ac- 
tion of the stammerer becomes normal, 
through proper treatment, and thoughts are 



Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 31 

allowed to flow freely, enabling the stam- 
merer to articulate without effort, the ner- 
vousness will gradually disappear, and the 
former stammerer will also find that his gen- 
eral health will be very much improved. 

An example of the effect of feeling on the 
digestive organs may be gained by a com- 
parison of an invalid receiving welcome news 
and another receiving sad news. While pleas- 
urable feeling stimulates the viscera in gen- 
eral into greater action, depression abstracts 
the normal energy necessary for proper 
digestion. 



STUTTERING 

There has been quite a little discussion as 
to the relative difference between stammer- 
ing and stuttering. Some writers have made 
a marked distinction, while others class the 
two ailments in the same category. 

It is generally agreed that in both cases a 
convulsive muscular contraction occurs. In 
stuttering the contraction or spasm is of 
much shorter duration than in stammering. 
In other words, stuttering consists princi- 
pally in the inability to let go the consonant 
sound. 

Consonant sounds require more energy to 
utter than the vowels, as considerable mus- 
cular movement is necessary, whereas in ut- 
tering vowels only on open, sustained throat 
orifice and no muscular movement is needed. 

Stuttering is characterized by a repeti- 
tion of words or syllables again and again 
before the next sound can be formed. 

In the effort to overcome this spasmodic 
repetition the afflicted often resorts to some 
physical movement to aid himself. 

Stuttering is distinctly a nervous weak- 
ness, and prevails mostly among children. 

The exercises for stammering can readily 
be adopted for stuttering in the cases of 
older people, and the following suggestions 



Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 33 

and exercises apply principally to the treat- 
ment of children. 

The seriousness of stuttering is rarely ever 
recognized until it is too late and has devel- 
oped from a physical ailment into a mental 
stage or stammering. 

When stuttering first manifests itself, the 
child is usually criticized, and in some cases 
severely punished, the parent thinking, prob- 
ably, it is some caper on the child's part. 
This is a dangerous practice and will often 
bring on a nervous irritation. The child is 
filled with nervous impulses, which it seems 
impossible to control. Often the family phy- 
sician is consulted, but what is needed is in- 
struction, not physic or theories. 

The mind of a child is extremely flexible 
and capable of being moulded many ways; 
therefore, extreme judgment should be used 
when training the child to enunciate prop- 
erly. Enforced obedience is a great mis- 
take while a child is thus afflicted. Kindness 
and perseverance will accomplish a great 
deal more, as it creates in the child's mind a 
feeling that it is being given sympathy, thus 
creating confidence in the person effecting 
the cure. 

The average child is an animated ganglion 
of interrogations. The young mind is con- 
tinually absorbing the familiar questions, 
how, where, what, why, etc. Thus the very 
eagerness which the child displays should be 



34 Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 

the greatest asset in teaching it proper 
articulation. 

Never dominate the child with that inex- 
cusable tyranny, "Do as I tell you !" Suggest 
rewards of some sort. 

These suggestions may not appeal to some 
parents with a child of indomitable will. But 
in a case of this kind it is all the more urgent 
that the parent be reasonable and be able and 
willing to train the child properly. 

Explain to the child as simply as possible 
the seriousness of stuttering. Associate 
with this some little friend who articulates 
freely and explain the difference between 
the enunciation of the two. Try and make 
the explanation as interesting as possible, 
so as to arouse in the child a desire not to 
stutter. 

The first rule in the cure of stuttering is 
deliberation. 

Teach the child to be deliberate not only in 
the exercises, but in ordinary conversation. 
Each syllable and word should be pronounced 
distinctly, as if uttered alone. Try and 
create in the child a thoughtful attitude. 
For instance, pick out an object in the room 
containing one or more colors. After telling 
the colors, get the child to tell you what 
object you have in mind. 

Exercises similar to this engender in the 
child deliberation between his conceived 
thought and his utterance of it. 



Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 35 

The following exercises, which appear fur- 
ther on in the book, should be used discrimi- 
nately, depending on the physical ability of 
the child: 

Exercises Nos. 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 
14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 26, 27, 28, 29. 



PART TWO— THE CURE 
FOREWORD 

Before we proceed with Part II, "The 
Cure," ask yourself if you thoroughly under- 
stand Part I, "The Cause." Have you been 
able to grasp the cause of why you stammer? 
Is the reason perfectly clear to you? If you 
have a doubt in your mind that the expla- 
nations are not clear, go back and read the 
first part over more carefully. Analyze 
every sentence until you understand it. Re- 
member that you are about to take the great- 
est step forward of your life. You are about 
to break the chains that have held you in 
captivity these many years. 

The good fortune to have one's vocal or- 
gans act in perfect harmony with the mind, 
so as to insure free and easy flowing speech, 
is an advantage not too dearly paid for by 
the labor and care by which it is attended. 

If the afflicted devotes himself to the me- 
chanical and mental studies that will oblit- 
erate this affliction, he will have the joy of 
seeing his instruments of speech not only 
perfected, but also being modified and made 
so flexible that they will obey the slightest 
suggestion. Never skip one day and say "Oh, 
I will do it tomorrow!" Tomorrow never 
comes, and procrastination is one of the 
stammerer's weak points. 



Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 37 

Many of the exercises may seem in them- 
selves dull or even ridiculous, but their ob- 
ject is to give greater strength and control 
in using all the muscles and senses in connec- 
tion with the use of the voice. 

The length of the treatment is variable. 
With very young children the cure does not 
take very long. Somewhat older children 
usually require several months, while older 
persons are often cured rapidly, depending 
upon how much real effort is expended. 

One of the greatest obstacles the stam- 
merer has to overcome is the desire to hurry 
the cure. As a usual thing, there is a desire 
to be conscious of the results at once. Be 
patient. Success is only attained by hard 
labor. Work up an enthusiasm. Let the 
mind dwell upon the pleasures of perfect 
articulation. Imagine you are a great orator 
delivering an address to a vast multitude. 
Try and get real joy out of the thought. 
Joy is positive. It causes expansion, stimu- 
lates breathing and establishes co-ordinate 
conditions for primary vibration. 

Now for the master key to perfect speech. 
"Faith." To have faith in yourself and in 
the exercises prescribed is the mightiest 
force relative to the cure of stammering. 
You can talk as well as any man. God gave 
you the same instruments of speech, and the 
power to use these instruments, as any 
other man, and for this reason, from now on,, 
you will not stammer. 



38 Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 

Always keep in mind these words— I 
WILL NOT STAMMER. 

You should declare — I am overcoming my 
impediment. The thing is now being accom- 
plished. 

The constant reiteration of these words 
constitutes a species of suggestion and builds 
up faith in one's self, and will be of great 
help in carrying out your determination. 

Now, every day when your labors are 
about concluded, ask yourself if you have 
conscientiously followed the instructions 
laid down to insure you perfect speech. It 
is to your self-interest to analyze this ques- 
tion thoroughly. Your future life is laid out 
before you. Do you desire to take your place 
side by side with your fellow-men and march 
along with the progress of time, or are you 
satisfied to lag along, an obscure figure, for 
the balance of your life? 

The answer is strictly up to you. Resolve 
to follow the instructions to the best of your 
ability, and success will be your reward. 



EXERCISES FOR BREATHING 

To make the exercises more simple for the 
student, we will treat the organs of speech 
as a machine which is operated by the motor, 
the brain. 

We shall, first of all, put the machine in 
first-class condition before proceeding to put 
the motor into condition. 

The first requirement is correct breathing. 
The importance of this function of the body 
is explained fully in the forepart of the book. 

There are numerous methods of breathing 
advocated for the treatment of voice culture, 
but I do not believe any of them will prove 
as beneficial to the stammerer as the ones I 
advocate. 

I find that a great fault of the stammerer 
is that he breathes too high, or uses the chest 
form of breathing, whereas diaphragmatic 
or abdominal breathing is the form that 
should be used unconsciously day and night. 

Chest breathing means filling the lungs to 
the utmost by expanding the chest and draw- 
ing in the abdomen. This form should be 
used only as a breathing gymnastic. 

Abdominal breathing causes the air to 
enter into the greatest number of cells, and 
will give the blood far more oxygen and will 
take away from the blood far more poison 



40 Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 

than when the same quantity of air is 
breathed by the chest method. 

By referring to the chapter under Motive 
Power of Speech you can see at once that the 
motive power of the voice is regulated and 
controlled by the eccentric action of the 
diaphragm. Therefore, to gain control of 
this we must not only strengthen the inspira- 
tory muscles and the power to take air into 
the lungs, but we must learn to give up 
breath gradually and stay the tension of the 
diaphragm. 

The greatest movement takes place just 
below the lower end of the breast bone, and 
to that spot the attention must be drawn 
when practicing breathing. Do not force 
the center of breathing too low, for by so 
doing you will introduce constrictions into 
the diaphragm and all the muscles of respi- 
ration. 

An excellent method to observe the action 
of the diaphragm is to stand at a distance 
and blow out a candle, or note the action in 
the middle of the body when laughing. 

Another example of the proper use of the 
diaphragm and a natural movement of the 
abdominal region in correct breathing is 
illustrated in a small child. In nearly all 
cases a healthy child will breathe properly, 
and by studying the action of his abdomen 
you will find that as the breath is inhaled 
the abdominal region will expand. When the 
breath is exhaled this part of the body will 



Stammering— Its Cause and Cure 41 

contract or be drawn inward. This demon- 
strates very conclusively that the movement 
or the expansion of the body in natural 
breathing is abdominal, and that the bony 
framework of the chest should not be in- 
volved except when breathing hard from 
the effects of breathing exercises. 

The amount of breath used for voice is de- 
termined by the vividness of the impression, 
the intensity of the passion and the struggle 
to control feeling. 

All control of emotion and feeling in man 
is directly associated with the control of the 
breath. Deep breathing is one of the best 
means of controlling discouragement or any 
other negative or emotional condition. 

The student can readily see by the forego- 
ing the importance of proper respiration, the 
first step toward perfect speech. 

Inspiration is utilized for the oxygenation 
of the blood, and expiration alone is em- 
ployed in the production of speech. 

To learn to breathe correctly by using the 
abdominal or stomach muscles and at the 
same time increase the capacity of the chest, 
the following exercises will undoubtedly gain 
the quickest results. 

Exercise No. 1 

Expand your chest to the fullest ca- 
pacity and keep it continuously expanded 
even when breathing out. If the bony 
framework of the chest is thus kept 



42 Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 

raised and fixed, breathing can only be 
performed by the diaphragm and waist 
muscles; and, as you cannot help breath- 
ing, nature will work the proper muscles 
without your knowledge or will. This 
effort of continuous expansion can only 
be sustained for a few minutes at a time, 
by persons unaccustomed to the exercise, 
and should be stopped the moment dizzi- 
ness is produced. 

Exercise No. 2 

Inhale slowly and retain a full breath, 
at first for only five seconds, then for ten, 
gradually increasing the time until it 
can be retained for fifteen or twenty 
seconds. Then allow the breath to pass 
' steadily and easily outward. 

Holding the breath must be done by 
the chest muscles only, and not by clos- 
ing the throat. There must not be the 
slightest click in the throat before expi- 
\ ration, which this improper closure 

would produce. 

Exercise No. 3 

(1) Inhale a complete breath. 

(2) Retain the air a few seconds. 

(3) Pucker up the lips as if for a 
whistle (but do not swell out the cheeks) , 
then exhale a little air through the open- 
ing with considerable vigor. Then stop 
for a minute, retaining the air, and then 
exhale a little more. Repeat until the 



Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 43 

air is exhausted. Remember that consid- 
erable vigor is to be used in exhaling the 
air through the opening in the lips. 

Exercise No. 4 

Sit straight in a chair which has no 
arms. Take a deep full breath through 
the nostrils; let it lift the trunk, head 
and shoulders up and back until they are 
well stretched. Hold this breath for a 
few minutes; then do not force it out, 
but let it ooze out very slowly. As you 
let it ooze out, let your head and shoul- 
ders sink forward and let your body 
sink forward naturally until you are 
more or less limp. Stay this way for 
several seconds, thinking of something 
particularly pleasing to the mind. This 
exercise is for the relaxation of the 
entire body. 

If you wish to find out whether or not 
your breathing is entirely satisfactory, stand 
up, take a deep breath, and observe not only 
the expansion in the region of the stomach 
and the abdomen, but also at the sides and 
in the back. If you place the palms of your 
hands on the lower ribs in back, just above 
the waist line, you should feel the expansion 
of the body in this particular part pressing 
upward through the diaphragm as a deep 
breath is inhaled. Also by pressing the hands 
upon the lower ribs at the sides just above 
the waist line you will feel the lateral expan- 



44 Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 

sion in this region at the same time that the 
expansion is noted in the front of the body. 
You will, therefore, realize that there should 
be an expansion of the lower ribs at the back 
and at the sides along with the expansion in 
the region of the stomach and the abdomen. 
Naturally, when a very full breath is taken 
there will also be an expansion of the chest 
following the filling up of the lower part of 
the lungs. 

I suggest at the start that you practice the 
above exercises at least five times in the 
morning and evening, gradually increasing 
the number of times to as many as possible. 
If the opportunity presents itself in the mid- 
dle of the day, you might also practice the 
exercises at this time, as it will not only help 
your breathing, but will be a relief to a 
mental or physical strain. 



EXERCISES FOR VOCALIZATION 

Now that we have learned how to properly 
take the breath into the body and then ex- 
hale, we shall proceed to learn how to turn 
the exhaled air into vocal sound. 

A blast of air passing up from the lungs 
through the windpipe into the larynx throws 
the more or less tense vocal cords into a 
state of regular vibration. This current of 
air is produced by the contraction of certain 
of the chest and abdominal muscles, so that 
the chest walls and lungs contained therein 
constitute a sort of bellows, while the pas- 
sage leading to the larynx forms the pipe, 
and the effect of the respiratory movements 
is just the same as opening and closing the 
handles of the bellows, which drives out and 
draws in the air through the pipe. Accord- 
ing to the state of tension or relaxation of 
the vocal cords, so will the rate of vibration 
and the pitch of the sound be raised or 
lowered. 

Another illustration of the effect of a blast 
of air is that of a steam whistle. When the 
steam is released, it rushes up through the 
pipe, striking a valve arrangement, which 
produces the whistle, which is the same prin- 
ciple used in producing vocal sounds. 

The center of all difficulties in securing 
the primary conditions of voice and estab- 



46 Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 

lishing right vibrations and all normal quali- 
ties is found at the beginning of tone, for it 
is here that a tone has its poorest vibration. 

The vocal cords may come together after 
the breath is started. This action wastes the 
breath, but the stammerer, not realizing 
what has happened, attempts to talk before 
taking another breath, or, in other words, 
he tries to talk on exhausted air. 

The right action of the vocal cords is nec- 
essarily connected with that of the breath. 
There has to be elastic control or retention 
of the breath in the middle of the body and 
the simultaneous action of the vocal cords. 
In the development of proper vibration, ac- 
cordingly, we must not only economize the 
breath passed through the vocal cords, but 
increase the amount retained. 

The tone is seemingly started with no ad- 
ditional force but the recoil of that used in 
taking breath. There must be no hesitation, 
no stopping. The breath seems to act almost 
as a rubber ball rebounds when dropped 
upon the floor. The tone seems to be made 
with almost a rebound of the breath. Only 
in this way will the vocal cords be brought 
into co-ordination and a relaxed normal con- 
dition be preserved in the tone passage. 

In some cases of stammering there is a 
spasmodic closure of the vocal cords which 
closes the glottis, preventing sound. This 
usually manifests itself by a choking sensa- 
tion. 



Stammering— Its Cause and Cure 47 

As a rule, the stammerer pitches his voice 
high, or what is termed as "head register," 
whereas by lowering the voice and using the 
"chest register" he allows the vocal cords 
more play. These vocal cords are very much 
like a violin; at each tension of the strings 
the pitch becomes higher. 

A very good exercise that will allow the 
vocal cords to vibrate freely and produce a 
steady flow of sound and at the same time 
benefit the entire organs of speech is as 
follows: 

Exercise No. 5 

Fill the lungs to the fullest capacity. 
From the moment that the air inhaled 
through the nostrils has filled the lungs 
great care should be taken not to expel it 
too briskly. Now, with your lungs filled, 
open the mouth quite wide, allowing the 
breath to escape very slowly with the 

sound ah . You must use no force, 

but simply permit the tone to slip gently 
away at the time of exhalation. When 
this first emission of tone is full, with- 
out any change of register pass to the 
vowel o, then to the other vowels. 

Exercise No. 6 

Fill the lungs as in Exercise No. 5, and 
as you expel the air count from one up. 
Do this as often as you can, and note the 
improvement each day in how high you 
can count with each breath. 



48 Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 

Exercise No. 7 

If you walk to your place of business 
or to school, walk as briskly as possible, 
head and shoulders up. Draw the air 
well down into the lungs and expel it in 
the same manner as in Exercise No. 5. 
You can make the tone soft, so it will 
not be noticeable to passersby. 

Exercise No. 8 

Stand at the far end of a room, look- 
ing into a mirror at the other end. Now, 
looking straight into your own eyes, 
speak to yourself in a whisper, as if you 
were speaking to a deaf person, making 
each syllable distinct. Keep your mind 
thoroughly on what you are doing. The 
elasticity caused by this exercise on the 
organs of speech will cause the muscles 
to become so flexible that they will per- 
form their duties at your slightest sug- 
gestion. 

Exercise No. 9 

Simple laughter is one of the very best 
exercises for the voice, as it is one of the 
most important of the spontaneous ac- 
tions and it acts directly toward right 
conditions of expression. It undoubtedly 
adds to your stamina. It gives you a 
hopeful spirit. Laughter is a pleasure in 
itself as well as a symptom of merriment. 
When the occasion presents itself for a 
good laugh, whether in the theater, at 



Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 49 

home or on the street, let it out. Make it 
ring true. The reason why laughter is 
so beneficial to health is that it stimu- 
lates deep breathing, and this extra-deep 
breathing not only exercises the organs 
of respiration, but also indirectly exer- 
cises the heart. It also means that more 
oxygen passes into the blood, and that 
the blood, richer than usual in oxygen, 
is carried more quickly than in ordinary 
times to various parts of the body. 



EXERCISES FOR ARTICULATION 

Regarded in a true psychological light, 
the vocal cords form the instrument by 
which we make ourselves heard, and the 
mouth, or the instruments contained therein, 
that by which we make ourselves under- 
stood. 

In the mouth, or the passage between the 
vocal cords and the lips, we have a resonat- 
ing instrument which, by varying its shape, 
influences the quality of the sound and im- 
presses upon it the characters of language. 

This resonating instrument, by move- 
ments of the tongue and lips, can assume a 
great variety of shapes with distinctive res- 
onances, and in this way can add to every 
note of the vocal cords the series of qualities 
which are known in language as "vowel 
sounds." 

The difference between a vowel and a con- 
sonant is the difference between a musical 
note and a noise — that is to say, the differ- 
ence between a series of regular sound waves 
and an irregular disturbance of the air. The 
consonants are also formed in the resonating 
instrument, but, being chiefly noises belong- 
ing to certain ways of opening and closing 
the vowels, they take less part in the actual 
resonance of the voice, although they influ- 
ence it to a great extent. They are essential 



Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 51 

to the distinctness of language, and have to 
maintain that character in dividing the 
vowel sounds from one another without en- 
croaching upon them. 

Let us analyze the mouth or the "resona- 
tors." 

The horizontal portion or mouth has the 
hard and soft palate for its roof, the jaw, 
teeth and cheeks for its walls and the tongue 
for its floor. 

The interior dimensions of this cavity can 
be greatly varied by moving the jaw, the 
soft palate and the tongue, and its orifice is 
regulated by the lips. It can be seen by this 
description that the mouth is controlled by 
the movements of the jaw, tongue and lips, 
and is therefore best adapted to the purpose 
of language. The throat, on the other hand, 
is less actively movable, but contains the 
vocal cords, and therefore has great influ- 
ence on their vibration without taking much 
part in the formation of words. 

There can be numerous constructions in 
the organs of articulation that will help to 
cause stammering, as follows: 

The muscles constituting the side walls of 
the pharynx can be drawn so close together 
as to almost touch. 

The tongue may be held so far back in the 
mouth as to cause the base of the tongue to 
come almost into contact with the back of the 
pharynx. The soft palate may hang down 
like a curtain, cutting off the entrance of the 



52 Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 

pharynx, whereas during the act of speech 
the soft palate should be raised continually, 
except when the sounds of m, n and ng are 
uttered. 

It is much easier for the stammerer to 
enunciate vowels than consonants, as only an 
open, sustained throat orifice and no mus- 
cular movement is necessary for vowels, 
whereas considerable muscular movement is 
necessary in uttering consonants. 

The sounds A, E, I, O, U constitute what 
are termed vowels. For all of them the lips 
are more or less open, and there is a general 
looseness of all the organs instrumental in 
the production of these sounds. 

Vowels are composed of partial tones, and 
are dependent on the consonants for intelli- 
gibility of speech. Consonants constitute the 
backbone of language, vowels the flesh and 
blood. 

To entirely cover the subject a full list 
of every consonant sound common in the 
English language has been arranged accord- 
ing to the different positions they require, 
so that the stammerer can pick out the let- 
ters that give the most trouble and practice 
all the more along the line of his individual 
need. It would be greatly to your advantage 
to read aloud at least twice every day all of 
the sentences constituting every sound. 

With a view to keeping an open jaw for 
the vowels, it is desirable to maintain the full 
opening for H, L, K, G. 



Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 53 

Exercise No. 10 

How holy Heaven hold high His hal- 
lowed hand. 

Let lovely lilies line Lee's lonely lane. 

Katherine's kitties kicked and knocked 
the kettle. 

George's glittering gold gleamed 
grandly. 

For T, D, N, R a slight closure is neces- 
sary. 

Exercise No. 11 

The thrifty that teacheth the thriving 
to thrive, teach timely to traverse the 
thing that thou thrive. 

Dealing destruction devasting doom. 

Now nightfall's near, now needful 
nature nods. 

Rich* rosy, regal rays resplendent rear. 

For P, B, M a complete closure of the lips 
is demanded, but the teeth remain somewhat 
apart. 

Exercise No. 12 

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled 
peppers. Where is the peck of pickled 
peppers Peter Piper picked? 

Busy bees buzz busily, but busy boys 
buzz busier. 

Much may my melting music mean, 
my modulated monotones. 

In F and V the teeth come closer together, 
having only the lower lip between them. 



54 Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 

Exercise No. 13 

For fame, for fortune, forming furious 
fray. 

Victorious Victor visited Venice vin- 
dicating virtue. 

In the others, S, Z, J, X, ch and sh, the 
teeth actually meet, and it is therefore neces- 
sary that the jaws should be quickly opened 
when they come before a vowel, so that the 
proper resonance may not be interfered 
with. 

Exercise No. 14 

Strange shooting streamers, streaking 
starry skies. 

Zachariah and Zita zealously played 
the zither. 

Jumping Juniper jigged a jogging 
jingle. 

The child found the watch, and when 
questioned chivalrously gave it up. 

The following sentences are a combination 
of vowels and consonants, and, while they 
are absolutely nonsensical, they will be of 
great aid in improving your pronunciation. 
It is well to read these sentences aloud at 
least twice each day in combination with the 
consonant sounds above. 

Exercise No. 15 

Andrew Airpump asked his aunt her 
ailment. 
Billy Button bought a buttered biscuit. 



Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 55 

Captain Crackscull cracked a catch- 
poll's coxcomb. 

Davy Doldrum drempt he drove a 
wagon. 

Enoch Elrig eat an empty eggshell. 

Francis Fripple flogged a Frenchman's 
filly. 

Gaffer Gilpin got a goose and gander* 

Humphrey Hunchbach had a hundred 
hedgehogs. 

Inego Impey itched for an Indian 
image. 

Jumping Jockey jeered a jesting jug- 
gler. 

Kimbo Kemble kicked his kinsman's 
kettle. 

Lanky Lawrence lost his lass and 
lobster. 

Matthew Mendlegs missed a mangled 
monkey. 

Neddy Noodle nipped his neighbor's 
nutmegs. 

Oliver Oglethorpe ogled an owl and 
oyster. 

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled 
peppers. 

Quixote Quixite quizzed a queerish 
quidbox. 

Rowdy Rumpus rode a rawbone racer. 

Sammy Smellie smelt a smell of small 
coal. 

Tiptoe Tommy turned a Turk for two- 
pence. 



56 Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 

Uncle Usher urged an ugly urchin. 
Villiam Vedy viped his vig and vaist- 
coat. 

Walter Waddle won a walking wager. 

All stammerers do not experience the same 
difficulty with the same letters or words. In 
most cases it is different. 

Care must be taken in the following exer- 
cises, as in all other exercises, to maintain a 
reserve of air by never entirely relaxing the 
expansion of the chest, as in Exercise No. 1, 
under Breathing. 

In all enunciations the student should be 
very particular as to pronunciation, as the 
proper formation of any word or group of 
words is determined by a mental perception 
of its sound — that is, we hear the word or 
words in our mind and produce them. 

The hearing plays an important part in 
stammering, inasmuch as it is the sound of 
our voice that helps to produce our self -con- 
sciousness, but an explanation of this subject 
would not benefit the stammerer, and would 
only make the study more complex. 

There must be no stopping between prepa- 
ration and speech. A word or phrase really 
begins with the breath taken. This is the 
key to the almost innumerable and myste- 
rious co-ordinations that produce the phe- 
nomenon of a spoken word. This continually 
demands careful attention. 



Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 57 

Exercise No. 16 

Count from one to fifty. Each word 
must be taken as an individual impres- 
sion. Ample time should be allowed. Be- 
fore each word there must be the recep- 
tion of plenty of breath, and the opening 
of the tone passage, immediately follow- 
ing this by speech, then the release of 
the remaining breath. After this there 
is a renewal of conditions for the next 
word, and so on. 

In the training of the tongue the first thing 
to be noted is whether the whole organ lies in 
its natural bed. When properly relaxed the 
tip rests passively against the lower teeth. 
This is the surest test of relaxation. It may 
be forced actively against the lower teeth, 
which causes constriction at the back of it. 

Exercise No. 17 

A helpful exercise is to keep the 
mouth closed, slowly and steadily inhale 
breath through the nostrils, and at the 
same time feel the back of the tongue 
relax, and later the weight of the whole 
tongue and the lower jaw with a separa- 
tion of the teeth. 

Exercise No. 18 

To secure flexibility of the jaw and de- 
velop its power to drop out of the way of 
the tongue, the following utterances are 
very beneficial: 

Fa, la, alpha, beta, gamma, delta. 



58 Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 

Exercise No. 19 

An exercise to gain flexibility of the 
soft palate is to utter Ah as easily and 
openly as possible, immediately following 
it with ng. In the ng the back of the 
tongue and the soft palate come together. 
In the vowel they are far apart. In the 
exercise we secure a kind of spring about 
the soft palate and the back of the 
tongue. 

Exercise No. 20 

For general relaxation of the vocal 
organs, lie on a couch in a relaxed condi- 
tion. Get your mind fixed on the thought 
of relaxation and quietness. After you 
have gained this condition, relate very 
slowly a poem which you have committed 
to memory. When uttering the words 
keep the muscles of the throat in as a 
relaxed condition as possible. In the 
beginning it is best to assume a "don't 
care" attitude and droll your words out. 
Later, when the exercise becomes famil- 
iar, you can speak in your natural way. 



EXERCISES FOR MEMORY AND 
CONCENTRATION 

Stammering is a disease of the will, 
inasmuch as the action of the organs of 
speech is a "faculty" of the mind, and 
the mind directs the body. 

Now that we understand the mechanism of 
speech, the thought occurs to us that at times 
we are able to enunciate with perfect ease. 
We can sing, we can recite poetry, and when 
alone we can read aloud without any trouble. 
Therefore, we know that our organs of 
speech are perfect, and, as it is the preroga- 
tive of the mind to govern and direct the 
body, we now turn to the relation of the mind 
to speech. 

But before going into this phase we ask, 
"If our organs of speech are perfect, why 
the prescribed exercises?" The reason is 
that the organs of speech have for so long 
been out of harmony with each other, 
through the lack of co-ordination with the 
brain, that the mechanical operation must 
be made perfect before the driving power is 
turned on. The method is the same as a ma- 
chine operated by a motor. The machine 
must be in perfect order before attaching it 
to the motor. But the motor, too, must be 



60 Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 

in perfect condition to drive the machine. 
Thus it is with the brain. 

We have learned in the forepart of the 
book that we have two minds — a conscious 
mind and a subconscious mind. Now, the 
conscious mind may be considered the active 
mind, and is capable of direct control of the 
subconscious mind, providing the subcon- 
scious mind is not controlled by an idea or 
doubt, as in the case of the stammerer, who 
doubts his ability for perfect speech. 

Stammerers do not consciously think their 
thoughts in actual words, or there is an il- 
logical vacillation of thought. The fear of 
stammering is so great that the mind is 
taken off the subject on which they desire 
to speak, causing a lack of mental and phys- 
ical co-ordination, which spasmodically forms 
a constriction of the vocal organs. 

An excellent illustration of this is that if 
a stammerer conceives an idea on any sub- 
ject that he desires to express to someone 
else, when the time comes for him to express 
this idea there is a conflicting idea in his 
mind of his ability to enunciate. Now, he 
understands perfectly just what he desires 
to speak about, but he is unable to con- 
centrate his mind entirely upon the subject 
through the fear of his inability to speak. 
Thus a confliction of ideas. And as the con- 
scious mind cannot entertain two ideas at 
one time, the result is a spasmodic closure of 
the vocal cords, causing stammering. 



Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 61 

In other words, the stammerer thinks in 
the same broken way in which he talks. He 
lacks the energy to concentrate, thereby caus- 
ing his thoughts to become confused. Con- 
centration therefore is very essential. As 
the gray matter of our brain is plastic and 
capable of being fashioned, stammering can 
be cured if the Will is strong enough to take 
the trouble, as the Will is higher than the 
mind. 

Stammering really is a disease which is to 
a great extent imaginary, brought about 
through fears that are the result of abnor- 
mal delusions. But where such a disease is 
combatted by mental forces of the right sort 
a cure in most cases is effected. 

Until a cure is effected you will see noth- 
ing in life worth while. Life is dull. Ambi- 
tion, enthusiasm, have all disappeared. When 
the mind is in such a state, your stammering 
grows worse. Do not get the idea that stam- 
mering will disappear as you grow older. Your 
physical and mental condition are continu- 
ally working against you, and you will not 
get any relief until the idea is erased from 
your mind of your inability to speak. 

In talking, we should think before we 
speak. First comes the idea, then the words 
to express it follow. We should speak these 
words naturally and easily while holding 
the idea. Think only one idea at a time, but 
realize each phrase before you speak it. We 



62 Stammering-— Its Cause and Cure 

cannot do this without careful attention. We 
must not only think; we must imagine and 
feel. 

Live the idea and then give it ; live another 
one and give that. Let your aim be to inten- 
sify so deeply your own thinking and feeling 
that your voice will directly obey your mind. 

You cannot force tone and at the same 
time make it free and full. Tone must be 
set free by your imaginative thinking and 
the natural response to this in feeling. 

An idea of the effect of feeling upon the 
mind may be gained from the following 
illustrations : 

An infant will laugh and bound in his 
nurse's arms at the sight of a brilliant color. 

People are apt to beat time with head or 
feet to music that particularly pleases them. 

In great grief there is a wringing of the 
hands and even tearing of the hair. 

In anger, there are distended nostrils, 
clenching of the fingers, compressed lips, and 
perhaps ends in a violent attack on the of- 
fending person, or in throwing about or 
breaking up the furniture. 

The following exercises must be followed 
conscientiously and the goal of success kept 
always in mind. An exercise may be seem- 
ingly mastered and not become subconscious. 
No exercise is adequate until it has awak- 
ened some unconscious conditions; until it 
has become a part of the man's strongest 
habits and activities. 



Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 63 

Exercise No. 21 

Select some good educational book. 
Turn to the first page and proceed to 
read the first paragraph. Read it slowly 
and carefully, understanding every word. 
Notions have flitted across the field of 
thought. Resolve to keep that field clear. 
Read the paragraph again, proceeding 
as before, and trying intensely to hold 
to its thought and nothing else. Now 
take your eyes from the page and repeat 
it — the thought, not the words. Con- 
tinue the exercise until you can confine 
the mind to that thought with not the 
shadow of another idea. 

Exercise No. 22 

When about to read ask yourself: 
"Why am I to read this matter?" Ana- 
lyze this question thoroughly and satisfy 
yourself as to the answer. Read the first 
sentence and ask: "What did that sen- 
tence mean and say?" Proceed thus to 
the close of the paragraph and ask: 
"Exactly what does this paragraph de- 
clare?" Persist in reading the para- 
graph until you can relate its thought. 

Exercise No. 23 

At the close of each day carefully re- 
view your thoughts and actions since 
morning. Try and remember each little 
incident, as what shoe you put on first, 
what you had for breakfast, etc., so on 



64 Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 

through the entire day. Recite this re- 
view aloud, in an ordinary tone of voice, 
as if speaking to some person. 

Exercise No. 24 

Recall some incident of your expe- 
rience of observation occurring within 
the past few days. Deliberately and 
rapidly recite in an ordinary tone of 
voice. Imagine you are speaking to 
some person; recite to him; compel him 
to listen; act as though you were trying 
to teach him. When you have begun a 
sentence, plunge straight through to the 
close. Then proceed in the same manner 
with the next, and drive yourself to the 
finish of your account. 

Exercise No. 25 

Recall some subject of thought on 
which you have an opinion. Proceed to 
state that opinion to yourself in ordinary 
tone of voice. Your opinion must be ut- 
tered rapidly; do not stop for a word; 
thrust in any word you can think of. 
The object of this exercise is to think 
thoughts in actual words and to think 
them with the greatest speed. 

Exercise No. 26 

Look out of a window where you can 
get a good view. Let your gaze be di- 
rected straight in front, with every 
power of attention. Try to observe all 
objects in the field of vision while gazing 



Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 65 

ten seconds. Now turn away from the 
window and name all the objects you 
have seen. This exercise may be varied 
by going into the street and gazing the 
same way. 

Exercise No. 27 

Study your hand. Notice its size, 
shape and outline, its shadings, and so 
forth. Keep the hand still but not rigid. 
This is an excellent exercise for the 
morning on the way to your work, 

Exercise No. 28 

Pick out some object. Now call out 
the name of some other object that is 
associated with the first, then another 
associated object, and so on. Example: 
The first object is a horse, then a wagon, 
then a wheel, and so on. This process is 
called "association of ideas," and will 
require close concentration. 

Exercise No. 29 

Describe an object placed before you; 
if you have difficulty, you are to adopt 
some system, such as proceeding from 
top to bottom or according to cause and 
effect. Do the same with pictures, the 
plot of a story, etc. 

Always remember that whenever you at- 
tempt to speak, think only of the subject 
upon which you desire to express an opinion. 
Do not let any other idea cross your mind. 



66 Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 

i i ,i i « ii i 

It is well to try and learn to forget that you 
are speaking to a human being. Always re- 
member that you are equally as good and 
on the same plane as the person to whom you 
are speaking. 

Cultivate an idea of superiority; attempt 
to look down on your fellow-men. I do not 
mean by this that you should become egotis- 
tical, but by cultivating an idea of superior- 
ity it will help to gain self-confidence, and 
this a big part of the battle. 

The above exercises should be practiced 
twice every day, exerting every ounce of will- 
power possible in each exercise. Success de- 
pends upon how much determination you put 
into your work. Always keep in mind : "I 
WILL NOT STAMMER." 



THE MORAL ATTITUDE 

The affliction of stammering sometimes 
carries with it a greater curse — that of im- 
moral thoughts. While there are exceptions 
to this phase of stammering, it is the sad 
truth that it is ofttimes the case. 

Denied the advantage of moral discussion, 
owing to his affliction, the stammerer culti- 
vates an exceptional imagination that is 
often inclined to be evil. 

Practically an outcast from society and 
ashamed of his affliction, the stammerer 
rarely has the pleasures of life that God in- 
tended for man. 

The realization of this deprivation causes 
a desire for evil, which, supplemented by his 
mental isolation and a want of proper men- 
tal occupation, causes irrational illusions. 

These illusions of the imagination take on 
many forms, from those bordering on evil to 
evil itself. 

Gradually this weak habit of thought be- 
comes a dominating force, deep-rooted in 
thoughtlessness. Thoughtlessness is a lack 
of concentration and, as explained in another 
chapter, lack of concentration is one of the 
main causes of stammering. 

Thus by indulging in revery until it be- 
comes habitual the moral attitude of the 



68 Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 

stammerer gradually permeates and influ- 
ences every act of life. 

There is another evil which is associated 
with stammering — lying. 

Naturally the supposition is that stammer- 
ing would prevent lying, but we must re- 
member that there are times when the stam- 
merer is able to articulate fairly well, gen- 
erally in the presence of relatives or dear 
friends. 

Upon these rare occasions, when he does 
hold forth, he is anxious to create a favorable 
impression and, realizing that the opportu- 
nity is at hand when he may articulate 
freely, he generally relates facts in such a 
way as to distort the truth. While these lies 
are only partial, and under the circumstances 
may be excusable, the fault will become a 
habit and thus take considerable will-power 
and determination to conquer. 

The stammerer frequently becomes the ob- 
ject of severe criticism and mockery, his 
good nature being severely tested. As irri- 
tation is synonymous with anger, another 
impediment is added to those already stated, 
making the stammering more severe. An 
angry person cannot think clearly and ex- 
hibits his anger in violent gestures. Anger 
also constricts the voice, and has a tendency 
to make it throaty and disagreeable, whereas 
sympathy and tenderness make it softer and 
richer in vibration and more pleasing to the 
ear. 



Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 6$ 

Ordinarily when a stammerer exhibits a 
sudden fit of anger, for a brief time he artic- 
ulates without any impediment, because he 
does not realize what he is saying or doing. 
But as soon as he becomes normal his stam- 
mering returns. 

While moral efficiency is highly essential 
in the lives of all successful men, it is doubly 
so in the life of the stammerer. To have a 
perfectly balanced mind and enjoy happi- 
ness without the shadow of a doubt, one 
must put behind him all weak habits of 
thought, exaggeration, and learn to have con- 
trol of one's self at all times. 

Store the memory with desirable imagina- 
tions until they utterly exclude the unde- 
sirable. 

Cultivate a cheerful state of mind. 

Whenever an unworthy thought occurs to 
you, thrust it aside and replace it by a better 
one. 

Determine to cultivate an ideal of woman- 
hood as an ever-present image in your 
thought as you would have your mother or 
sister live. 

Occupy your mind with trains of reason- 
ing that are essential to your success in 
obliterating your stammering. 

Learn to state facts with naked veracity. 
Do not distort the truth. If you find you 
cannot narrate a happening or an experience 
without exaggeration, let it be untold. Let 
your words be few, well weighed and with a 



70 Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 

beneficent purpose behind them before you 
let them pass your lips. 

Do not become angry when reminded of 
your affliction. Count ten and you will see 
how ridiculous it is. 

Do not worry and brood over your condi- 
tion. When such an unpleasant thought oc- 
curs to you, put it aside and think of some- 
thing pleasant. 

Laugh as much as you can. Laughter is 
the fundamental condition of all genuine ex- 
pression. Take a deep breath at the begin- 
ning of a laugh. Laughter is beneficial to 
the health, as it stimulates breathing and its 
frequency causes a great quantity to be 
taken. 

The aforegoing suggestions are going to 
be hard to carry out, but if you desire per- 
fect speech, you must learn to persevere. We 
have real power over the formation of our 
own character, and our will, by influencing 
some of our circumstances, can modify our 
future habits or capacities of willing. 

There is nothing which a man cannot do, 
reasonably speaking, if he actually and pro- 
foundly desires it. 



HINTS ON GENERAL HEALTH 

An active brain is always handicapped by 
a sluggish body and vice versa. For man to 
be at his best he must possess a strong 
vitality. 

Vitality is as necessary to the successful 
man as food is to the body. It indicates func- 
tional and organic vigor. A vital man is 
naturally enthusiastic, and, as enthusiasm 
is most important in the cure of stammering, 
we shall endeavor to create a body pulsating 
with life in all of its most attractive forms. 

The general health of the stammerer is 
most always poor. The constant worry of 
his affliction reacts on the stomach, and his 
digestive organs only half perform their 
duty, causing the entire body to become 
sluggish and abstracting the result of any 
physical work. The muscles become soft and 
flabby and general dislike of all physical 
labor soon manifests itself. The stammerer 
in this condition practically goes through 
life without living. In other words, he 
scarcely exists. 

You might ask, "Can a man in this con- 
dition be so improved that he be really alive, 
vital, vivacious?" 

You may rest assured that if you make the 
necessary effort, a thorough revolution can 
be brought about in your physical and men- 



72 Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 

tal powers. You must have strength of body 
to be a success, and in taking exercises to 
build up the body you are developing deter- 
mination that will be of great assistance to 
you in your stammering exercises. 

The most important of the bodily functions 
is the stomach. To have a stomach that 
works as intended by nature without the aid 
of physics is practically an assurance of good 
health and great vitality. 

Too many people depend absolutely on 
physics for a well-regulated stomach. Proper 
physical exercise and plenty of water will 
not only regulate the stomach, but will help 
the entire body to gain the proper vitality. 

IMPORTANT RULES FOR HEALTH 

1. Food should be regulated to the condi- 
tion of the body and your general line of 
work. 

2. Plenty of pure water should be freely 
drunk — at least four glasses a day. 

3. Plenty of sound sleep should be secured, 
with as much fresh air as possible. Don't 
sleep in a draft. 

4. Bathe frequently — at least two hot 
baths a week and a cold bath in the morn- 
ing — followed by a brisk rubdown if you can 
stand it. 

5. Cleanse the teeth morning and evening. 
Health to a large extent depends upon the 
teeth. 



Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 73 

6. Always try and wear clean clothing, for 
"Cleanliness is next to Godliness." 

7. Be cheerful. Try to always carry a 
smile. 

8. Discard everything thought injurious 
to health. 

Defective digestion and imperfect assimi- 
lation are the principal causes of many of the 
stammerer's ailments. 

After studying the matter very carefully 
I have come to the conclusion that the 
method suggested by Mr. Bernard McFadden 
in his book on "Vitality Supreme" is the best 
possible procedure to alleviate this ailment 
unless it has become chronic, in which case 
a physician should be consulted. 

Mr. McFadden's method is as follows: 

Immediately upon arising in the morning 
prepare one or two quarts of boiling water, 
with a minute quantity of salt, and a cup 
that will hold from one-half a pint to a pint 
of water. Pour the cup half full of boiling 
water and then add cold water until it is 
cool enough to be rapidly swallowed. Drink 
the water as hot as possible without sipping 
it. Now take exercises No. 30, No. 31 and 
No. 32. Continue each of these movements 
until a feeling of fatigue is noticed, after 
which you are ready for more hot water. 

After the second cup of water take exer- 
cises No. 33, No. 34 and No. 35; then more 
water and then exercises No. 36, No. 37 and 
No. 38. You will find that this hot water 



74 Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 

i— — ■ '■■ " ' 

will have a decided beneficial effect upon the 
stomach, and the exercises will tend to stimu- 
late the blood circulation. 

Exercise No. 30 

Place the open palm of the left hand 
on the forehead. Now, while pressing 
vigorously against the movement, bring 
the head from far backward to far for- 
ward. Continue until fatigued and vary 
the exercise by using the right hand 
instead of the left. 

Exercise No. 31 

Interlace fingers behind the left leg 
just above the knee. Now, while slightly 
resisting the movements with the leg, 
lift upward vigorously. Continue the 
movement until a slight feeling of 
fatigue is produced. In addition to its 
value as a stimulant to the nerve centers, 
this movement is especially recommended 
for strengthening and developing what is 
known as "the small of the back." It 
should be varied by interlacing fingers 
behind the right leg instead of the left. 

Exercise No. 32 

Stand erect, spine rigid and straight 
as possible. Bring the left leg upward, 
bending the knee and grasping the leg 
almost under the knee. Now lift the leg 
as high as possible by merely bending 
the arms at the elbow. This is an un- 



Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 75 

usually valuable exercise for developing 
the biceps and other muscles of the upper 
arm. The movement should be con- 
tinued until fatigue ensues. The leg used 
should be varied from left to right at 
different times when the exercise is 
taken. 

Exercise No. 33 

Hook the fingers of the right and left 
hands together at the back of both legs 
a little above the knee. Now make a 
vigorous lift upward. Relax and repeat 
until a definite sensation of fatigue is 
produced. 

Exercise No. 34 

Move the head far over to the left. 
Now place the palm of the right hand 
against the side of the head and press 
against the head as it is moved from far 
to the left to far to the right. Continue 
until slightly fatigued, and then take the 
same exercise, reversing the position by 
using the left hand against the head 
instead of the right. 

Exercise No. 35 

Place the right hand behind the head. 
Now, pressing against the head with the 
right hand, bring the head from far for- 
ward to far backward. Continue until 
tired and vary the movement by using at 
times the left hand instead of the right. 



78 Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 

Exercise No. 36 

Stand erect, bend the knees, lowering 
the body to a crouching position. Rise 
and repeat until a distinct feeling of 
fatigue is noticed. On each occasion 
when rising to an erect position be sure 
to "snap" the knees backward with a 
slight "jerk" at the end of the move- 
ment. This little movement seems to 
very greatly stimulate the circulation 
and materially increase the number of 
times you can perform the exercise. 

Exercise No. 37 

Lie prone on the floor, face downward. 
Place the open hands near the chest, the 
elbows extended far out at the sides. 
Raise the body by straightening the 
arms. This exercise is especially valu- 
able for general chest stimulation. 

Exercise No. 38 

Interlace the fingers of both hands be- 
hind the head. Now, with the head far 
forward, press against the head as it is 
moved far backward as possible. Con- 
tinue the movement until fatigued. 



THE DAILY ROUTINE 

I stated in the forepart of the book that 
results can only be accomplished by hard 
work and sacrifices. But if you are deter- 
mined to succeed, little inconveniences should 
amount to naught. 

Following is a suggestion for a daily sched- 
ule of exercises. Try and live as close to this 
schedule as possible for the best results. 

Rise at least two hours before leaving for 
work or school. 

Drink several glasses of hot or cold water 
immediately upon rising. 

Take the breathing exercises. 

Follow with light calisthenic exercises. 

Next the exercises for Vocalization and 
Articulation. 

Following these exercises, a hot bath, 
gradually cooling the water until it is cold. 
The bath may be varied at times by taking a 
shower. 

Before breakfast take the exercises for 
Concentration. 

Eat a light breakfast, chiefly of fruit. 

Throughout the day always keep your ex- 
ercises in mind. Practice whenever the op- 
portunity presents itself. Always concen- 
trate upon one idea at a time, and never 
forget your resolution "I WILL NOT 
STAMMER." 



78 Stammering — Its Cause and Cure 

If the opportunity presents itself during 
the day, relax the entire body for a few min- 
utes. Make your mind void of all thought. 
Let it be a blank. You will find this will be 
a great aid to you. 

When you eat your lunch, try and get as 
much enjoyment out of the food as possible. 
Arrange to take a little walk in the open 
after lunch. During this walk try and form 
an opinion upon some new subject. You can 
usually get food for new thought from the 
daily papers. 

Drink plenty of water during the day. 

After your evening meal rest awhile, and 
then go through with the mental exercises 
again. Before you retire practice your exer- 
cises on breathing, vocalization and articu- 
lation. 

Retire early enough to get a good night's 
rest, so you will not feel tired and draggy the 
following morning. 



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